Tick. Tick. Tick. The arm of the clock slowly falls into line and the last of the finals are turned in. The spring semester is over, grades are in and life is good.
This is the moment SRJC freshman Nicole Downs is waiting for as the semester comes to a close. “It has been a hard year transitioning from high school to college,” Downs said. After a long, hard spring semester SRJC students deserve local summer entertainment at a reasonable price.
For more than three decades the Harmony Festival has celebrated the green lifestyle and its many sides while captivating audiences young and old. The 33rd festival takes place June 10, 11 and 12 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. The festival strives to provide the inspiration to its attendees to create abundant communities around the planet by making changes to their own lives.
In the last five years the Harmony festival has expanded into a major music festival. However, the festival continues to celebrate its roots in art, ecology, spirituality and health by passing on a multi-cultural perspective to new generations. This festival with its music, food, and sustainable practices make it the perfect summer get away within city limits.
“I saw the most amazing art, food and music of my life,” Downs said with a smile. “I have been the past three years and every year it gets better and better to the point that it keeps me coming back.”
In 2010 Harmony Festival, Inc. became the only festival in North America to receive the One Planet Communities Honor, which recognized its continuing effort be as sustainable as possible. The 2010 festival broke records with more than 35,000 people over the weekend. It brought big names in entertainment such as Lauryn Hill to Sonoma County, along with hundreds of musical performers and more than 300 vendors.
Throughout the festival various art booths are scattered through a maze of pop-up gazebos. Inside these booths are local artists creating and selling art. There are booths from local restaurants, specialty ethnic and even vegan foods, which contribute an enriching multicultural element to the event.
“I have been to the Harmony Festival off and on since I was a kid” said Adam, a former SRJC student and local pastry chef. “I love the way it opens my eyes to the aspects of other cultures and how I can relax and have a good time in the comfort of the sun and live music.”
Harmony provides a family friendly atmosphere and welcomes all ages, making it perfect for a summer weekend. A kids’ village provides a safe and secure place for the younger attendees while entertaining them with dance, theater, magic shows and jump houses.
The Eco-village is a part of the festival that dates back to its creation in 1978. The main purpose is to shine light on important environmental issues currently affecting the planet. “I enjoy the eco-village every year,” Adam said. “The village can be a great place for young people to learn about problems and what they can do to help make a change. Some people just don’t know what’s going on.”